Stereoscopic helmet display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9922460-B2
Application number	US-201414532734-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2014
Priority date	Nov 4, 2014
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A welding-type system includes a helmet having a first image capture device configured to capture a first set of images of a work area from a first perspective and a second image capture device configured to capture a second set of images of the work area from a second perspective. The helmet also includes an electronic display configured to display the first and second sets of images substantially simultaneously to cause a stereoscopic appearance of the work area via the electronic display. Moreover, the helmet includes an audible command translation unit configured to receive audible commands configured to adjust operation of a power supply configured to supply power for the welding-type system. Furthermore, the welding-type system includes a processing system communicatively coupled to the audible command translation unit and configured to adjust at least one parameter of the power supply based at least in part on the received audible commands.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A welding-type system, comprising:
a helmet comprising:
a first image capture device configured to capture a first set of images of a work area from a first perspective during a welding operation;
a second image capture device configured to capture a second set of images of the work area from a second perspective during the welding operation;
an electronic display configured to display the first and second sets of images substantially simultaneously to cause a stereoscopic appearance of the work area depicting the welding operation via the electronic display during the welding operation; and

a processing system communicatively coupled to the helmet and configured to adjust at least one parameter of a power supply based at least in part on feedback received from the helmet and
an energy harvesting unit that captures light from the welding operation and converts the light into energy that is used in displaying the first and second sets of images.

2. The welding-type system of claim 1 , wherein the helmet comprises an inertial measurement unit configured to detect movement of the helmet, and the processing system is configured to adjust at least one parameter of the power supply based at least in part on the detected movement of the helmet.

3. The welding-type system of claim 1 , comprising a welding-type tool communicatively coupled to the power supply, wherein the welding-type tool comprises an inertial measurement unit configured to detect movement of the welding-type tool, wherein the processing system is configured to adjust one or more parameters of the power supply based at least in part on the movement of the welding-type tool.

4. The welding-type system of claim 1 , comprising a wearable device comprising an inertial measurement unit configured to detect movement of the wearable device, wherein the processing system is configured to adjust one or more parameters of the power supply based at least in part on the detected movement of the wearable device.

5. The welding-type system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic display is configured to display a representation of the power supply and to display the at least one parameter of the power supply.

6. The welding-type system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter comprises a current level of the power supply, a voltage level of the power supply, or a type of a welding-type process powered by the power supply.

7. The welding-type system of claim 1 , wherein displaying the first and second sets of images substantially simultaneously comprises alternating between the first and second sets of images at a rate faster than noticeable by an operator's eyes.

8. The welding-type system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system comprises power supply control circuitry.

9. The welding-type system of claim 1 , comprising a transceiver configured to transmit information indicative of audible commands to the power supply or a transmitter configured to transmit information indicative of the audible commands to the power supply.

10. The welding-type system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic display comprises a transparent light emitting diode display, a transparent liquid crystal displays, or a transparent organic light emitting diode display.

11. The welding-type system of claim 1 , wherein the first image capture device comprises a camera configured to capture images of the first perspective of the work area, wherein the first perspective is approximately a perspective that would be viewed by a right eye of a user wearing the helmet.

12. The welding-type system of claim 11 , wherein the second image capture device comprises a camera configured to capture images of the second perspective of the work area, wherein the second perspective is approximately a perspective that would be viewed by a left eye of a user wearing the helmet.

13. The welding-type system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic display blocks a direct view of the work area during the welding operation and displays a virtual view using the first and second sets of images.

14. The welding-type system of claim 1 , wherein the welding operation comprises utilizing a welding arc.

15. The welding-type system of claim 1 , wherein the helmet comprises an audible command translation unit configured to receive audible commands configured to adjust operation of the power supply, and the processing system is configured to adjust at least one parameter of the power supply based at least in part on the received audible commands.

16. A welding-type system, comprising:
a helmet comprising:
a first image capture device configured to capture a first set of images of a work area from a first perspective during a welding operation;
a second image capture device configured to capture a second set of images of the work area from a second perspective during the welding operation;
an electronic display configured to display the first and second sets of images substantially simultaneously to cause a stereoscopic appearance of the work area depicting the welding operation via the electronic display during the welding operation; and

a processing system communicatively coupled to the helmet and configured to adjust at least one parameter of a power supply based at least in part on feedback received from the helmet and
an energy harvesting unit that captures kinetic movement of the helmet and converts the kinetic movement into energy that is used in displaying the first and second sets of images.

17. The welding-type system of claim 16 , wherein the helmet comprises an inertial measurement unit configured to detect movement of the helmet, and the welding-type system comprises a processing system configured to adjust at least one parameter of the power supply based at least in part on the detected movement of the helmet.

18. The welding-type system of claim 16 , comprising a welding-type tool communicatively coupled to the power supply, wherein the welding-type tool comprises an inertial measurement unit configured to detect movement of the welding-type tool, wherein the welding-type system comprises a processing system configured to adjust one or more parameters of the power supply based at least in part on the movement of the welding-type tool.

19. The welding-type system of claim 16 , comprising a wearable device comprising an inertial measurement unit configured to detect movement of the wearable device, wherein the welding-type system comprises a processing system configured to adjust one or more parameters of the power supply based at least in part on the detected movement of the wearable device.

20. The welding-type system of claim 16 , wherein the electronic display is configured to display a representation of the power supply and to display the at least one parameter of the power supply.

21. The welding-type system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one parameter comprises a current level of the power supply, a voltage level of the power supply, or a type of a welding-type process powered by the power supply.

22. The welding-type system of claim 16 , wherein displaying the first and second sets of images substantially simultaneously comprises alternating between the first and second sets of images at a rate faster than noticeable by an operator's eyes.

23. The welding-type system of claim 16 , wherein the processing system comprises power supply control circuitry.

24. The welding-type system of claim 16 , comprisi

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Denis Marc Lee

Classifications

• H04N23/65

  Control of camera operation in relation to power supply · CPC title

• H04N23/633

  for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera · CPC title

• H04N23/90

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title

• B23K9/322 Primary

  Head protecting means · CPC title

• G05B19/409

  characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters (G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence) · CPC title